Circulatory system for moving the sliver cans in a spinning plant



Aug. 10, 1965 TAKUZO TOOKA ETAL 3,199,152

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM FOR MUVING THE SLIVER CANS IN A SPINNING PLANT Filed Oct. 9, 19e2 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,0 j w/WM 635 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ETAL FlG.3-3

UZO TOOKA SYSTEM FOR MOVING THE SLIVER IN A SPINNING PLANT TAK CIRCULAT FIG. 3-l

K-5 K-4 K-3 K-2 Aug. 10, 1965 Filed Oct. 9, 1962 United States Patent 0 3,19%152 CIRCULATGRY SL1 14R QANS EN A SPKNNENG PLLAl I Talruao Toolta and Kan-co Taltada, Kariya, Japan, assignors to Toyoda Automatic Loom Worlrs, Ltd, Kariya, .iapan, a corporation of Japan Filed Oct. 9, 19:52, Ser. 1 o. 22%,433 Qlaims priority, application Japan, Dec. 29, that, 36/47,991 4 Claims. (Cl. 19-359) This invention relates to a method for moving the sliver cans in a closed path in a spinning plant, wherein the sliver from one machine having a silver filling device is to be transferred to the other machine.

in a recently developed system of the spinning machines equipped with the can changing device, such as drawing frames or gill machines, an automatic can moving system is adopted, wherein the sliver from the coiler part of the first drawing machine is received successively in the sliver cans and the slivers of a plurality of cans are automatically fed to the second drawing frame, while the series of cans are succesively moved. in the system of moving the sliver cans, it is most important that the position of the sliver in a filled up can is so controlled that it may be automatically nipped by a nipping and cutting device with K2096 accuracy and without causing any sliver breakage at the can changing operation. The object of this invention is to provide an improved method of moving sliver cans which is adapted for automatic spinning plant, operating at high efficiency and accuracy.

According to this invention, a polygonal path for a plurality of sliver cans is provided in front of the first drawing frame, said polygon having its inner corner angle of at least 9 and having one side thereof located beneath the coiler part of said first drawing frame. A plurality of cans are divided into at least two groups, one group comprising the can located at the sliver filling point and the empty can or cans located on the same side of polygon leaving a vacant space in front of said series of cans adapted to accommodate at least one can, and the other group of cans comprising the filled cans feeding slivers to the second drawing frame and arranged in series on the remaining sides of polygon without leaving any vacant space for the can. The whole system is arranged in such tanner that upon the can changin operation the first group of cans on the first side of polygon are moved forwardly at high speed to occupy the vacant space in front thereof, and then the other succeeding group of cans on the remaining sides of polygon are successively moved forwardly at lower speed to occupy the vacant space produced in front thereof by the movement of the preceding group of cans.

The accompanying drawing will serve to illustrate specific embodiments of our invention, in order that its utility and functioning will be thoroughly appreciated. It will be understood, however, that these are by way of illustration only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention in any way. in the drawing:

FlG. 1 is a side view of a spinning plant comprising two drawing frames and the sliver can moving pattern according to this invention arranged between said drawing frames;

PEG. 2 is a plan view thereof; I

FIGS. 3-1 through 3-6 are diagrammatic plan views, showing in sequence the movements of the sliver cans in a closed circuit; and

PEG. 4 shows a simplified modification of the arrangement of the polygonal path for t e series of cans.

Referring now to the drawing, I68. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 designates diagrammatically the first drawing frame, 2 is a coilcr part thereof, and 3 is the second 3,l%,l52 Patented Aug. 1%, 1955 drawing frame. 4 is a can support forming a polygonal or square path in the example shown. This polygon of the can path may be any polygon having its inner corner angle of at least 90. Between the can K1, K2 and the can Kid, there is left a vacant space 4 adapted to accommodate one or two cans. In the example shown, the space d is adapted to accommodate two cans. The can iii is in the filling position beneath the coiler part 2 of the first drawing frame 1. When the can K1 is filled up, the cans and K2 are moved one can pitch forwardly, i. in the direction of arrow A, bringing the empty can K2 to the sliver filling position in place of the full can i and the latter can contacts with side rollers 5. In this position, as the sliver is not as yet cut, the continuous sliver would be depending between the cans K1 and K2, making a depending loop. Since the recently developed continuous system of the spinning machines are operated at high speed, said depending loop of sliver would be considerably long. in view of the above, while the sliver must be nipped and cut at the position between said two cans in effecting the automatic nipping, it would be difficult to efiectively and accurately effect such nipping with 106% accuracy, because of the presence of such depending loop of sliver. Moreover, as the two cans are in contact, the nipping device (not shown) can not be inserted between the two cans. In the system according to this invention, therefore, the can Kl only is further moved in the direction of arrow A for one pitch corresponding to one can diameter, thereby absorbing the slacking or looping of sliver. This is effected by the transference of the can Kl away from the empty can K2 which is now located in the sliver filling position. This makes an ample space between :the can K1 and K2, allowing the insertion of the nipping device (not shown) therebetween.

Each of the rollers 5 is made of elastic material such as rubber, and is rotated around the axis perpendicular to the plane of the path of movement of the cans in the direction of arrow 6. By the rotation of said rollers 5 the can K1 only is moved farther in the direction of arrow, leaving the can K2 in the filling position beneath the coiler part 2. By such arrangement, the automatic nipping of the silver may be effectively and accurately effected. It is to be understood that the sliver is cut by suitable means (not shown) at the position adjacent the can K2 which is positioned and maintained at the filling position, and it is possible to start the feed of the leading end of the sliver from the full can Kl now positioned at the corner of the path to the feed part of the second drawing frame 3.

Now, each can filled with a predetermined amount of sliver is to be successively moved along the polygonal path and, during its transfer movement, each can is successively emptied and is further moved to the initial filling position, thus completing its circulation along the closed circuit. This cycle of movement of the cans will be described with reference to FIGURES 3-1 through 3-6, as follows:

In the example of FIG. 2, the path of the cans is shown as comprising a square path, which include 10 sliver cans, among which one can is in the filling position and the another can is empty following the said can under filling, and the remaining eight cans are simultaneously feeding the second drawing frame 3 with eight slivers. in this case, the doubling number is 8 slivers. In FIG. 3-1, the can Kl. is in the filling position and the empty can K2 is following said can KT. waiting next filling. Upon the completion of the filling in the can Kl, the said can and the following empty can K2 are moved in unison in the direct-ion of arrow A for one pitch (distance corresponding to the diameter of one can) at high speed, so that the preceding can K1 is replaced by the empty can K2 7 indicates a portion of the sliver depending between the cans K1 and K2. Immediately thereafter, the full can K1 only is further moved forwardly by means of the rotating rollers 5, thereby moving the can Kl away from the can K2 so that the depending loop portion is stretched as at 8, as shown in FIG. 33. This position is adapted for desired efiective automatic nipping of the sliver. FIG. 33' shows that the sliver is cut at a point adjacent to the can K2. Next, the cans K3, K4 and K5 are moved in unison in the direction of arrow B at a slower speed, as shown in FIG. 34, so that can K3 occupies the righthand corner space produced by the removal of the can K2, on the other hand leaving a vacant space at the left hand corner which has been formerly occupied by the can K5 in FIG. 33. Next, the cans K6, K7 and K8 are moved in unison in the direction of arrow C, as shown in FIG. 3-5, so that can occupies the said space formerly occupied by the can K5. Lastly, the

cans K9, K and K1 are moved in the direction of arrow D so that can K9'occupies the vacant space formerly occupied by the can KS, as shown in FIG. 3-6, which figure just corresponds with FIG. 3-1, with the exception that each can is shifted forwardly for one pitch, completing one sub-cycle of shifting movement. It will be seen that by repeating the above mentioned sub-cycle of shifting movement for ten times, each can will be returned to its initial position, finishing its complete cycle of operation.

A simplified modification of the arrangement of the sliver cans is shown in FIG. 4. In this form, nine cans are arranged along a rectangular path, the first group of the cans comprising the can K1 which is under filling and two empty cans K9 and K8 being arranged along the longer side of the path located beneath the coiler part of the first drawing frame 1, while the other group of the cans K2, K3, K4, K5, K6 and K7 which are actually the other longer side and two shorter sides of the polygonal path, and leaving a vacant space at a corner in front of the can K1 which is under filling. In this example, six slivers are being fed to the second drawing frame, the doubling number being 6 slivers. Upon the filling up of the can K1, the group of said full cans K1, the empty cans K9 and K8 is rapidly moved in the direction of arrow A, transferring the can K1 into the corner space and leaving a space behind the empty can K8. Then, the group of the feeding cans K6 and K7 are successively moved at lower speed in the direction of arrow B, and so on in the manner similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the arrangement of the cans as shown in FIG. 4, the group of the cans moving along the first side of polygon includes the can K1 under filling and the empty cans K9 and K8, the total weight of this group of cans being quite small, so that the speed of movement of said group of cans may be considerably increased without any increase of cost. The propelling of the said group of cans K1, K9 and K8 may be readily effected by means of a simple link mechanism acting against the can K8. The other cans on the remaining sides of polygon may be moved gradually at a lower speed during the period of filling operation for one can K1. By employing a lower speed of movement of the said feeding cans, it is possible to prevent or minimize any entanglement and breakage of slivers.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that according to this invention a plurality of the sliver cans may be circulatory moved by a considerably simple method; that the movement of the cans to be shifted at the time of can changing operation may be effected at high speed, while the movement of the other cans may be efiected at lower speed independently with respect to the movement of the cans shifta'ble at the can changing operation.

What we claim is: l

I. A method of moving sliver cans in a spinning plant having two machines wherein the sliver from one machine having a can filling device is to be transferred to feeding the second drawing frame 3 being arranged along another machine, consisting in arranging a plurality of sliver cans in a closed polygonal path between the machines, said polygonal path having inside corner angles of at least and having one side thereof located beneath the can'filling device of the one machine, dividing the plurality of cans into at least two groups, one group comprising a can located beneath the can filling device of the one machine and at least one empty can located on the said one side of the polygonal path, leaving a vacant space adjacent the can beneath the filling device of the one machine sufiicient to accommodate at least one can and extending to a corner of the polygonal path at one end of said one side with the space at said corner which is following. said one side bein vacant, and the other rou of cans comprising cans at least partly filled with silver for feeding slivers to the second machine and arranged in series, one series for each of the remaining sides of the polygonal path, the series on the side of the polygonal path next in sequence following said one side of the polygonal path having a number of sliver cans one less than the number of cans which can be accommodated along said next side, and each remaining series of cans filling the corresponding side of the polygonal path, and when the can beneath the filling device is full, moving the first group of cans on the first side or" the polygonal path toward the vacant space at a high speed so that the newly filled can occupies a part of the vacant space and the empty can is moved beneath the filling device, then moving the said filled can away from the empty can which has been moved beneath the filling device and into the empty common corner space as the last can in the series of cans along said next side of the polygonal path, and then moving the respective series of cans in the other group of cans on the remaining sides of the polygonal path around therpath so that the leading can in each series occupies the spot left vacant by the trailing can in the preceding series, said cans in the other group being moved at a low speed.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the filled can in said one group is moved away from the empty can beneath the filling device by applying a force to the opposite sides of said filled can in the direction in which it is to be moved.

3. A method as claimed in clainrl in which said polygonal path is rectangular, one of the longer sides being beneath the filling device of said one machine.

4. A method as claimed in claim I in which said polygonal path is square.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/24 Cramer l9159X 4/63 Osaki et a1. 19-159 

1. A METHOD OF MOVING SLIVER CANS IN A SPINNING PLANT HAVING TWO MACHINES WHEREIN THE SLIVER FROM ONE MACHINE HAVING A CAN FILLING DEVICE IS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER MACHINE, CONSISTING IN ARRANGING A PLURALITY OF SLIVER CANS IN A CLOSED POLYGONAL PATH BETWEEN THE MACHINES, SAID POLYGONAL PATH HAVING INSIDE CORNER ANGLES OF AT LEAST 90* AND HAVING ONE SIDE THEREOF LOCATED BENEATH THE CAN FILLING DEVICE OF THE ONE MACHINE, DIVIDING THE PLURALITY OF CANS INTO AT LEAST TWO GROUPS, ONE GROUP COMPRISING A CAN LOCATED BENEATH THE CAN FILLING DEVICE OF THE ONE MACHINE AND AT LEAST ONE EMPTY CAN LOCATED ON THE SAID ONE SIDE OF THE POLYGONAL PATH, LEAVING A VACANT SPACE ADJACENT THE CAN BENEATH THE FILLING DEVICE OF THE ONE MACHINE SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE AT LEAST ONE CAN AND EXTENDING TO A CORNER OF THE POLYGONAL PATH AT ONE END OF SAID ONE SIDE WITH THE SPACE AT SAID CORNER WHICH IS COMMON TO SAID ONE SIDE AND TO THE SIDE NEXT IN SEQUENCE FOLLOWING SAID ONE SIDE BEING VACANT, AND THE OTHER GROUP OF CANS COMPRISING CANS AT LEAST PARTLY FILLED WITH SILVER FOR FEEDING SILVRS, TO THE SECOND MACHINE AND ARRANGED IN SERIES, ONE SERIES FOR EACH OF THE REMAINING SIDES OF THE POLYGONAL PATH, THE SERIES ON THE SIDE OF THE POLYGONAL PATH NEXT IN SEQUENCE FOLLOWING SAID ONE SIDE OF THE 